I was born and raised in the Hudson Valley, and I’ve spent the last 13 years working for Central Hudson. My family, my friends, my neighbors -- we all rely on this company not just for power, but for stability and opportunity.
The Hudson Valley Power Authority Act would put that at risk. Replacing a locally rooted utility with a state-run authority might sound good on paper, but in reality, it means higher costs, slower service, and fewer local jobs. Communities like Poughkeepsie and Newburgh can’t afford that.
Central Hudson has powered this region for more than a century, supporting local schools, funding workforce programs, and contributing millions in tax dollars that keep our towns running. A government takeover would jeopardize that support and replace it with bureaucracy and less local control.
I’m proud to serve the region I grew up in. This bill doesn’t strengthen the Hudson Valley’s future — it threatens it.
— Kyle Defalco, A Central Hudson employee